Sheikh Majzoub, a Doctor in Islamic Philosophy, has called for the death penalty to be reintroduced for convicted murderers and terrorists. Photo: Kirk Gilmour

The respected Imam, who studied in Syria and Saudi Arabia, is speaking out because he wants the media to help the Muslim community get the message across that it is unacceptable for such crimes to be committed, let alone in the name of any religion.

"Young people if they think they are doing it in the name of religion then they have been deceived," said Dr Majzoub.

The former Mufti of Australia, Sheikh Taj din al-Hilali, has backed calls for the death penalty for convicted terrorists. Photo: Janie Barrett

"Islam says there will be a curse on anyone who commits murder. The death penalty would be a deterrent," he said.

Dr Majzoub said the law should be for everybody equally and he hoped it would make would-be terrorists "think twice" before killing someone.

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Dr Majzoub, whose teacher son Mustapha was killed doing humanitarian work in Syria in 2012, has spoken out as the federal government has flagged moves to keep convicted terrorists behind bars even after their sentences are finished if they are still considered to be dangerous.

The Councils of Australian Governments reportedly backed the move in a meeting on Friday after a briefing from ASIO director general Duncan Lewis.

The changes proposed to the meeting by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would see those convicted of terrorism able to be kept in jail in the same way paedophiles and violent offenders can be detained if still considered a threat to society.

Dr Majzoub has also backed the authorities in stopping people before they have committed crimes, saying not to have done so would make them an accessory to the crime.

Dr Majzoub's comments have been backed by the former Mufti of Australia Sheikh Taj din al-Hilali who said the divine faiths call for the preservation of human life, prohibit murder and regard the murder of a person as a murder of humanity.

"I believe that we must implement strong legal deterrents against any person who holds murderous terrorist intents. Murder should have the strongest legal deterrents and a sentence of execution would be such a deterrent to stop murder which seems to be increasing," said Sheikh al-Hilali.

Founder of the Islamic Friendship Association Keysar Trad said he agreed that the strongest possible deterrent should be in force against murder and terrorism.

Sydney man Zak Mallah was the first person charged with a terrorism offence after Australia ramped up its terrorism laws in the wake of the the September 11 attacks.

Mallah was just 19 at the time and was acquitted of the terrorism charges. He was convicted of threatening an ASIO officer and served a jail term.

He told Fairfax Media that he agreed with Dr Majzoub about the death penalty should applying to those convicted of carrying out murders and terrorist attacks. But he doesn't believe that it would be deterrent because it could be taken as a badge of honour by ISIS that they are now going to be martyred.

But he said he strongly disagreed with condemning a convicted minor to death row. Instead he believes minors should be given the chance to be rehabilitated while in jail.

Professor Anne Azza Aly, a counter-terrorism expert from Edith Cowan University said she was opposed to the death penalty and said it didn't leave any room for rehabilitation particularly for those convicted of terrorism-related charges without having committed a violent act.

"We are a nation that has progressed. I don't believe the death penalty would be a deterrent to terrorism or murder."

She said other countries still had the death penalty but it had not stopped the crimes.

Dr Majzoub said it is important not to point the finger at Islam because it is not helping and only causing a negative reaction. "It must be remembered that people commit crimes regardless of their background," he said.